(Right: Zulu
Government aka Thanda Magubane)
African storytelling is an age-old art. Oral
traditions are messages that are transmitted orally from one generation to
another. The messages may be passed down through speech or song and may take
the form of folktales and fables, epic histories and narrations, proverbs or
sayings, and songs. There is a rich tradition throughout Africa of oral
storytelling.
The African dream. It means so many things
to so many young people. For most young South Africans, however, the African
dream means rising above poverty into living a life of all-round prosperity. The
thing about Zulu Government aka Thanda Magubane, 35 is that he intends on
turning his African dream into his lived-out reality. Bearing his heart with
his audience in his new brutally honest song collaboration with Big Zulu titled
Vosloo 4AM, South Africans are
allowed a glimpse of his dreams through his tell-all candidness as revealed in
the song lyrics. The song will be
released on all digital platform such as Spotify and Apple Music and is set to
be the country’s newest gem in the hip hop and rap genres influenced by Zulu
traditional music.
On the collaboration and song, Big Zulu
said: “I instantly wanted to collaborate with Zulu Government on this song as
soon as I heard the lyrics. I am for empowerment and goal-getting particularly,
when it comes to empowering young South Africans for success. While the song is
a party song which talks about partying till 4AM in Vosloo, it also teaches you
to celebrate your successes along the way whatever that may look like. For Big
Zulu, success was being in that moment at that party in Vosloo at 4AM as he was
visiting the big city from a small town which didn’t even have supply of water
on most days.
”I’m from Bergville and I never imagined
the success I now enjoy. I now remember my struggle on the way to the place in
society I currently enjoy and, the one thing I think people should remember is
to celebrate the successes along the way, regardless of how small they are. The
song teaches you to enjoy the small milestone successes on the way to your
individual path to prosperity. Don’t get
so busy getting to your success that you forget to enjoy the road there,” Big Zulu adds.
The song lyrics also detail the accidental
meeting between both artists at the party Zulu Government raps about. Both
artists wanted the lyrics of the single to appeal to a relatable audience, specifically
those who weren’t gifted with much or those born into affluent families who
have big dreams and won’t allow their challenges to hinder them in pursuing
their personal goals and dreams for their lives.
Lyrical storytelling is what Zulu Government
roots his art form in. He is especially proficient in telling uniquely African stories
to a uniquely South African audience. “The song is about celebrating my life
and the achievements I’ve wrought. It’s especially a celebration of my life and
the journey I have so far travelled. I’ve had the displeasure of living with
minimal necessities such as water however, I never wallow in self-pity, I
believe that you’re born into the circumstances and family you have for a
reason. Whether it is to build strength
in your character in the area of resilience or, whether it is to set an example
for the ones coming up behind you, there’s always a reason that will
indefinitely be revealed as time passes. While you should never forget your
past, I don’t believe that anyone should accept hardship as a defined destiny.
I want my music to tell these stories and inspire young South African’s to get
out there and turn their dreams into a reality,” he says.
“I’ll never forget telling my mom about my
dreams of becoming a musician. While she couldn’t wrap her head around the
dreams I shared with her, she always supported me and told me to never forget
to show people respect and to remain humble. Though the lyrics are jarringly
honest, I have never forgotten my mother’s words and want this to come through
in my music,” says Zulu Government. “I
am also not in denial of the circumstances I and my peers face living in this
country. I believe that you must rise above your circumstances and in faith,
keep moving forward toward success. Self-pity and laziness never helped anyone.
I am for personal triumph and I believe that, it’s something that is strived
and contended for,” he says.
On Vosloorus, he says: “I will never forget
the first time I came to Johannesburg at age 18. I got to visit Vosloorus in
2003 as I was visiting my relatives. I couldn’t party as much as I wanted as I
was still quite young. Given all the stories I had heard, I was scared to be in
the city and, promised myself that one day I would be back. I’ve kept my word
to myself and this song is testament to turning dreams, however small, into
your own personal reality.”
“This song is especially special to me as
Vosloorus and the parties I attended there on first arriving in Johannesburg,
opened my eyes and caused me to dream better and bigger for myself. Am I there
yet? I don’t think I’ll ever be there. But, my biggest dream which houses my
vision for personal success is that I get to inspire young South African’s through
my honest storytelling. This makes my own personal struggle all the more worth
it,” he says.
SoundCloud link to listen to his brand NEW
single:
https://soundcloud.com/user-441583871/sets/inauguration
For more information follow Zulu Government
on social media #4am @zulugovernment1
Facebook Zulu hulumeni
Instagram @zulugovernment1